What Is Life

"What Is Life"
US picture sleeve
Single by George Harrison
from the album All Things Must Pass
A-side	"My Sweet Lord" (UK)
B-side	"Apple Scruffs" (except UK)
Released	15 February 1971 (US)
Format	7-inch vinyl
Genre	Rock, soul
Length	4:22
Label	Apple
Songwriter(s)	George Harrison
Producer(s)	George Harrison, Phil Spector
George Harrison singles chronology
"My Sweet Lord" (1970) "What Is Life" (1971) "Bangla Desh" (1971)
All Things Must Pass track listing
23 tracks  Side one "I'd Have You Anytime" "My Sweet Lord" "Wah-Wah" "Isn't It a Pity" Side two "What Is Life" "If Not for You" "Behind That Locked Door" "Let It Down" "Run of the Mill" Side three "Beware of Darkness" "Apple Scruffs" "Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)" "Awaiting on You All" "All Things Must Pass" Side four "I Dig Love" "Art of Dying" "Isn't It a Pity (Version Two)" "Hear Me Lord" Side five "Out of the Blue" "It's Johnny's Birthday" "Plug Me In" Side six "I Remember Jeep" "Thanks for the Pepperoni"

"What Is Life"
German picture sleeve
Single by Olivia Newton-John
from the album Olivia
B-side	"I'm a Small and Lonely Light"
Released	1972
Genre	Country, pop
Length	3:21
Label	Pye International
Songwriter(s)	George Harrison
Producer(s)	Bruce Welch, John Farrar

"What Is Life" is a song by the English musician George Harrison, released on his 1970 triple album All Things Must Pass. In many countries, it was issued as the second single from the album, in February 1971, becoming a top-ten hit in the United States, Canada and elsewhere, and topping singles charts in Australia and Switzerland. In the United Kingdom, "What Is Life" appeared as the B-side to "My Sweet Lord", which was the best-selling single there of 1971. Harrison's backing musicians on the song include Eric Clapton and the entire Delaney & Bonnie Friends band, with whom he had toured during the final months of the Beatles. Harrison co-produced the recording with Phil Spector, whose Wall of Sound production also employed a prominent string arrangement by John Barham and multiple acoustic rhythm guitars, played by Harrison's fellow Apple Records signings Badfinger.

An uptempo composition in the soul genre, "What Is Life" is one of several Harrison love songs that appear to be directed at both a woman and a deity. Harrison wrote the song in 1969 and originally intended it as a track for his friend and Apple protégé Billy Preston to record. Built around a descending guitar riff, it is one of Harrison's most popular compositions and was a regular inclusion in his live performances. Rolling Stone magazine has variously described it as a "classic" and an "exultant song of surrender".

"What Is Life" has appeared in the soundtrack for feature films such as Goodfellas (1990), Patch Adams (1998), Big Daddy (1999) and This Is 40 (2012). Harrison's original recording was included on the compilations The Best of George Harrison and Let It Roll, and live versions appear on his album Live in Japan (1992) and in Martin Scorsese's 2011 documentary George Harrison: Living in the Material World. In 1972, Olivia Newton-John had a UK hit with her version of the song. Ronnie Aldrich, the Ventures and Shawn Mullins are among the other artists who have covered the track.